Day 5: Nevada

Taking Steps of FAITH Every Day Along the Way

Our story began twelve years ago. As a team, we launched a Royal Family KIDS camp and haven’t looked back since. Two years ago, we moved our camp location and the ministry is now part of Discovery Church. The previous church donates their vans and equipment to the new camp location each year, and our camp staff stayed intact.

We have just enough faithful volunteers for camp every year—which is always a struggle in this city. We are in a 24/7 working town, which means it’s sometimes difficult for potential volunteers to get off work for an entire week. We do have someone from another church however, who represents us and recruits volunteers. This has been a blessing.

Every July when we hold camp, our finances are not 100% in place, but we have always been able to raise the necessary funds required. As director of our north Nevada camp, I have never had to worry about this aspect because I walk by faith. God gives me the necessary strength and resources each year … He provides.

Some of our more successful fundraisers include fireworks, Chipotle fund raising night, and the Elvis Fan Club.

The Elvis Fan Club is a group of people who are Elvis fans, they hold a luau each November and this is where our camp gets the balance of its money. The Dolly Parton and Elvis impersonators are the ones who have presented the check to us in the past. In addition, Chipotle dedicates a ‘fund raising night’ to us, one by which all of the money they take in that particular night goes to our RFK camp.

We have a local contributor who provides all the necessary pieces for our ‘Birthday Party’ event at camp each year. They donate decorations, toys, and dinner. They also are active and participate in the set-up of the party. The Birthday Party event planning, prep, and set-up is so well taken care of that I don’t even have to think about how it’s getting done every year—it just happens!

There are so many people to thank every year, and these are just some of the mentions. It’s an ‘extended’ team effort and we are so grateful!

I love telling some of the stories we’ve experienced through the years. One year, our music performer twisted his ankle on the way up to camp. Instead of turning back, he worked through it, persevered, and performed for the children. He spent quality time with all of the children despite his pain, and by mid-week his ankle was feeling better.

We are about to embark on our third year at this new location. We take steps of faith all the way … every year, and we believe God is telling us to keep on going!

History:Royal Family KIDS didn’t have a location in Nevada for a long time. We used to have a camp in 2007, but it had been offline for eight years. We prayed about finding a local church that would partner with us… we searched online directories for a wide variety of churches that might partner with us and sent them flyers and handwritten notes… we spoke at community events and conferences, and even cold-called several children’s pastors across Nevada. And in God’s perfect timing, one leader came BACK to answer the call.

Cynthia Dick of Discovery Church came back to our Directors Training in order to bring a Royal Family KIDS camp back to Nevada. She enlisted a great group of volunteers that serve as the hands and feet of Jesus to serve local foster children and give them the Good News that God loves them and has a positive plan for their future.

Cynthia Dick and her amazing team of North Las Vegas RFK Volunteers!

We need another 30 local leaders to step forward in order to serve all the Nevada’s foster children. Are you located in Nevada? Do you know someone who is? Please send this blog to them (use the ‘share’ buttons below) and ask them to reach out to us!

Help us spread FAITH, share this blog now!

JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR NEVADA

1) Please pray for the 1,358 children in Nevada currently in foster care: that they will come to know that God loves them and has a positive plan for their future;